The next installment of SF MusicTech Summit is a week away. If you tend to follow the biggest music + tech-related events in the Bay Area, you might be asking yourself something along the lines of “wait, didn’t they just throw one of these events a few months ago?” Yes, it’s not your imagination; the last conference took place in February.
Why did the organizers decide to follow up so soon on their bi-annual event? Besides the basic logistics involved in organizing a massively popular conference, there’s a deeper progression at play. Read on to find out why everyone involved in some aspect of music should especially attend, this time around, and how Spinning Platters can save you 20% on registration.
An Evolution of Ideals
As one of the few people who can proudly claim to have attended every single SF MusicTech Summit to date, I’ve witnessed, firsthand, how the conversation around navigating the music tech space has evolved over the years. In the beginning, the main topics of discussion at the Bay Area’s top music + tech conference revolved around labels avoiding stagnation and embracing the growing presence of new online services. Where was this headed and how were they going to survive the inevitability of change? From there, companies were more concerned with their bottom line and how they could effectively scale their products to meet an increasing adoption rate.
Lately, the main concern facing industry experts has shifted; it isn’t so myopic anymore. The last SF MusicTech Summit, in February, focused largely on building sustainable resources for one area of revenue that truly matters: artists. One stand-out example of ingenuity is Copper, a browser plug-in that allows you to leave a tip for artists you want to support monetarily. As its creator so eloquently put it, “you can’t buy a burrito with a Facebook Like.”
Another novel concept came from MusicBrainz’ founder, Rob Kaye, during the Rights & Terms of Licensing Database panel. He encouraged the audience of mostly developer types to think about what they could build to circumvent an outdated process of paying artists and, in turn, potentially eliminate antiquated licensing systems like ASCAP and BMI…for good.
Now is the Time
Naturally, the momentum that was ignited during the last conference needs to continue. Start-up Innovators Showcase, one of the best forums for aspiring developers and entrepreneurs, also yields some of the most useful ideas. Case in point: Copper, as mentioned earlier. Couple that with a stellar line-up of speakers including Jermaine Dupri, executives from the likes of Facebook + Tumblr and Crystal Method’s producer, Ken Jordan, there’s something for everyone to learn from and build upon.
Save 20% on Registration
SF MusicTech’s founder, Brian Zisk, is an optimist, at heart, and a connector by nature. His main goal is ensuring attendees have plenty of opportunities to network as a means of forming strategic, beneficial partnerships for future endeavors. Besides a welcoming party, the evening before, there are two celebrations, post conference offering up *a lot* of free alcohol from sponsors. It’s pretty much worth the price of admission, alone, to have a few drinks and socialize with a passionate community of artists, developers, creators, and professionals.
Use the code platters to receive a 20% discount on admission. Hurry, prices will go up soon.
